Maintainability Analysis Software of Mine’s Hoist System Based on Genetic Algorithms for Data Collection Periods of Three and Six Months

Nick  Vayenas; Chao  Xu

doi:10.4236/oalib.1102022

OALibJ Vol.2 No.11 , November 2015

Maintainability Analysis Software of Mine’s Hoist System Based on Genetic Algorithms for Data Collection Periods of Three and Six Months

Chao Xu, Nick Vayenas

Abstract: Equipment failures and associated maintenance have an impact on the profitability of mines. Implementing maintenance at suitable time intervals can save money and improve the reliability and maintainability of mining equipment. This paper discusses aspects of maintainability prediction for mining machinery. For this purpose, a software tool, called GenRel, is developed. In GenRel, it is assumed that failures of mining equipment caused by an array of factors follow the biological evolution process. GenRel then simulates the failure occurrences during a time period of interest using Genetic Algorithms (GAs) coupled with a statistical methodology. Two case studies on maintainability analysis and prediction of a mine’s hoist system in two different time intervals, three months and six months are discussed. The data are collected from a typical underground mine in the Sudbury area in Ontario, Canada. In each case study, a statistical test is carried out to examine the similarity between the predicted data set and the real-life data set in the same time period. The objectives include an assessment of the applicability of GenRel using real-life data and an investigation of the relationship between data size and prediction results. Discrete and continuous probability distribution functions are applied to the input data.

Keywords: Maintainability, Genetic Algorithms, Mine’s Hoist System, GenRel

Cite this paper: Xu, C. and Vayenas, N. (2015) Maintainability Analysis Software of Mine’s Hoist System Based on Genetic Algorithms for Data Collection Periods of Three and Six Months. Open Access Library Journal, 2, 1-13. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1102022.

References

[1] Dhillon, B.S. (2008) Mining Equipment Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety. Springer Series in Reliability Engineering. Springer.

[2] Calabro, S.R. (1962) Reliability Principles and Practices. McGraw-Hill Book Company.

[3] AMCP706-134 (1972) Engineering Design Handbook: Maintainability Guide for Design. US Department of Defense, Washington DC.

[4] Ahn, C.W. (2006) Advances in Evolutionary Algorithms, Theory, Design and Practice. Vol. 18, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg and New York.

[5] (1990) In: Michalewicz, Z., Ed., Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Statistical Scientific Databases: Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 420, Springer-Verlag, New York.

[6] Srivastava, P.R. and Kim, T. (2009) Application of Genetic Algorithm in Software Testing. International Journal of Software Engineering and Its Applications, 3.

[7] Gen, M. and Cheng, R. (1997) Genetic Algorithms & Engineering Design. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken.

[8] Goldberg, D.E. (1989) Genetic Algorithms in Search, Optimization, and Machine Learning. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.

[9] Shi, L., Da, L. and Fu, H. (2005) An Application of Genetic Algorithm in Engineering Optimization. Current Trends in High Performance Computing and Its Applications, 431-435.

[10] McCall, J. (2005) Genetic Algorithms for Modelling and Optimization. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, 184, 205-222.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cam.2004.07.034

[11] Aytug, H., Khouja, M. and Vergara, F.E. (2003) Use of Genetic Algorithms to Solve Production and Operations Management Problems: A Review. International Journal of Production Research, 41, 3955-4009.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207540310001626319

[12] Dawid, H. and Kopel, M. (1998) On Economic Applications of the Genetic Algorithm: A Model of the Cobweb Type. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 8, 297-315.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s001910050066

[13] Proudlove, N.C., Vadera, S. and Kobbacy, K.A.H. (1998) Intelligent Management Systems in Operations: A Review. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 49, 682-699.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jors.2600519

[14] Clement, S.R. and Vayenas, N. (1994) Use of Genetic Algorithms in a Mining Problem. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 8, 131-136.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09208119408964774

[15] Ataei, M. and Osanloo, M. (2003) Using a Combination of Genetic Algorithm and the Grid Search Method to Determine Optimum Cutoff Grades of Multiple Metal Deposits. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 18, 60-78.

[16] Nie, X., Chen, Y. and Lu, C. (2007) Application of Genetic Algorithm in Optimizing Open-Pit Development System. Metal Mine.

[17] Pendharkar, P.C. and Rodger, J.A. (2000) Nonlinear Programming and Genetic Search Application for Production Scheduling in Coal Mines. Annals of Operations Research, 95, 251-267.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018958209290

[18] He, M., Wei, J., Lu, X. and Huang, B. The Genetic Algorithm for Truck Dispatching Problems in Surface Mine. Information Technology Journal, 9, 710-714.

[19] Vayenas, N. and Nuziale, T. (2001) Genetic Algorithms for Reliability Assessment of Mining Equipment. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 7, 302-311.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13552510110407087

[20] Kanji, G.K. (2006) 100 Statistical Tests. SAGE Publications, London, 198.

[21] Law, A.M. and Kelton, W.D. (2000) Simulation Modeling and Analysis. McGraw-Hill, Boston.

[22] Wu, X. (2009) Reliability Assessment of Mobile Mining Equipment Using Genetic Algorithms Combined with Maintenance Analysis: A Case Study of a Fleet of Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) Vehicles. Master’s Thesis, Laurentian University, Sudbury.

[23] Vayenas, N., Wu, X. and Peng, S. (2010) Application of Genetic Algorithms for Reliability Assessment of Two Mine Hoisting Systems.

[24] Vayenas, N., Runciman, N. and Clement, S.R. (1997) A Methodology for Maintenance Analysis of Mining Equipment. International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 11, 33-40.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09208119708944053

[25] ABB (2014) Mine Hoist Systems Safe and Reliable for All Needs.

[26] De la Vergne, J. (2003) Hard Rock Miner’s Handbook. 3rd Edition, McIntosh Engineering, North Bay.

[27] Palisade Corporation @Risk (2005) Risk Analysis and Simulation Add-In for Microsoft Excel. Version 4.5, November, 2005.

[28] Xu, C. (2014) Application of GenRel for Maintainability Analysis of Underground Mining Equipment: Based on Case Studies of Two Hoist Systems. Master’s Thesis, Laurentian University, Sudbury.